Mugello MotoGP: Bradley Smith and Scott Redding 1-2 on grid

Bradley Smith and Scott Redding claimed a stunning British 1-2 on the grid for tomorrow’s Italian 125GP race in Mugello.

Incredibly, today’s result is the first time that a British duo has occupied the first two places on a Grand Prix grid for 30 years!

Aspar Aprilia rider Smith claimed the fourth pole position of his career with a brilliant lap of 1.58.134 with four minutes of a sun-drenched qualifying session remaining.And Blusens Aprilia rider Redding claimed his second front row start in equally impressive fashion as he seized second place on his last flying lap.

The 16-year-old clocked a best of 1.58.431 to finish just 0.297s outside of Smith’s best time.

World championship leader Julian Simon was third and 0.441s off the pace of 18-year-old Smith, who had first jumped to the top of the timesheets with 22 minutes remaining.

Smith goes into tomorrow’s 20–lap race trailing Spanish team-mate Simon by just five-and-a-half points and he looks a good bet to mount a serious challenge for his second victory of the 2009 campaign.

Completing the front of the grid is third Aspar Aprilia rider Sergio Gadea, the Spaniard claiming fourth with a best lap of 1.58.621.

Danny Webb made it three Brits in the top ten as the Degraaf Aprilia rider ended up 10th on the grid with a best time of 1.59.478.

Matt Hoyle is not competing in this weekend’s fifth round of the world championship in Mugello following the withdrawal of the Chinese-backed Haojue squad.

The new project, run by former Suzuki MotoGP boss Garry Taylor, has been badly hindered by a woefully slow engine. With Mugello such a horsepower dominated circuit with a home straight over 0.7 miles in length, the team have opted to sit out the Italian clash.

It is not clear whether the team will return for the Catalunya 125GP in Barcelona on June 14.